Improvement in marble-shooters



Patented. Nov. 28, 1876'.

Jul/em a. A A

A. D. LAWS.

MARBLE SHOOTER.

Mme ss as.

UNITED STATES To all whom it may concern:

PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT D. LAWS, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN MARBLE-SHOOTERS.

Specification forming partof Letters PatentNo. 184,717. dated November 28,1876; applicationfiled April 25. 1876.

Be it known that I, ALBERT D. LAWS, of Bridgeport, Fairfield county, Connecticut, have invented a Device for Shooting Balls, Marbles, &c., of which the following is a specification V The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a device for shooting balls, marbles, &c.

Its construction is as follows:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the device.

A is the handle, of wood or metal. The

same is hollow to admit the spring B. With in the coil of the spring B is the guide 0, of any shape, either round or square. The one shown-has three wings or projections. A crosssection is shown at a, Fig. 3. On one end of the guide C is the cupD to hold the balls, marbles, &c., a short distance from the cup D. The wings of the guide C are left longer, the full outside diameter of the spring B, and slots cut therein, b b b b, Fig. 2, into which two or three coils of the spring B are screwed, thus securing it to the guide. The other end of the spring is fastened to the pin E, passing through the butt of the handle, thus securing both spring and guide within the handle. By pressing on the cup I) the spring is compressed within the handle to any required depth, and held fast by the trigger F acting against the coil of the spring B. Pressing on the trigger releases the spring, thus-allowing it to throw forward, discharging the contents of the cup with considerable force.

I am aware of the existence of a device for shooting balls and marbles, and would call attention to the points of ditference between the two: First,in thedevicealluded to,in place of the springB there is a tube inserted in the hollow handle A, and at the bottom of I the handle, and in rear of the tube, is placed a spiral spring, from which the force is obtained; but, owing to the fact that the tube must occupy a considerable portion of the hollow handle, thereby leaving but little room for the spring, it has to be very stifi", making it hard for children to push it back; but by making the spring long it works with the same force much easier.

In place of the tube 1 use the spring B, oc-

cupying the whole depth of the hollow handle and projecting beyond, using in the same length of handle a longer spring, producing thereby the same amount of force, and much cheaper.

Second, in the device alluded to there is a solid cup attached. to the tube to hold the balls and marbles. Notches are also cut in the tube, into which the trigger is dropped to hold it in check and regulate its force, in place of which I bring the trigger in contact with any of the coils of the spring itself, and thereby hold it in any position.

In place of the solid cup attached to the tube, and composing two pieces, I make the skeleton cup and guide in one piece, making it lighter and cheaper of manufacture.

I am aware ot'the patent to R. W. Churchill, March 14, 1876, No. 174,780, and such I do not claim.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The toy marble-shooter herein described, consisting of the hollow handle A, provided with the spring-trigger F, the guide C, having slots belt-and skeleton cup I), and the spring B, the latter acted immediately upon by the trigger F, and all constructed and arranged to operate as set forth.

ALBERT D. LAWS.

Witnesses:

HERMAN GAUSS, RUDOLPH KOST. 

